To Herberton and Back, 06 August 1901 Mr W. J. Munro who has just returned from a visit to Mt. Garnet, Coolgarra, and Herberton, kindly favors us with a few impressions of his trip. Leaving by the 6.30 train, Lappa junction is reached about 2 oclock. Thence the journey to Mt. Garnet, distant about 35 miles is by coach, which reaches its destination at about 10 p.m. There are two lines of coaches on this route, Cobb & Cos and Chatfields. Halfway to Mt. Garnet, California Creek, a tin mining centre is passed. Lappa is the point at which the line of railway to Mt. Garnet, now being constructed under the private railway Bill, passed last session of Parliament leaves the Chillagoe line. On the line of construction Messrs Wilcocks and Overend, the contractors, have passed on eight or ten miles with the formation and earth- works. The contractors main camp is at the 10 mile, and the preliminary work of construction has advanced as far as two miles on the Mt. Garnet side of California Creek. From Lappa to Mt. Garnet, the conveyance of goods is accomplished by the Bourke Carrying Co., who have not only camel teams but horse teams also. They also employ carriers with horse teams to relieve any surplus of loading. The cost of carriage over the 35 miles which separates Mt Garnett from the Chillagoe line is £3 10s per ton. From Mt Garnett to Lappa the loading is mainly copper matte from the smelter while the return loading is chiefly coke and general merchandise. At Lappa there are two hotels, Waltons and Dillons, and at Mt Garnett there are five, viz. Lilycrafts Walls, Lucys, Copelands, and Noonans. The two stores at the latter place are run by Jack and Newell, and T. Boland. Mt. Garnet boasts of only one bank, the Q. N. B., and it has a Progress Association, which is a live body. The township is situated in rugged hilly country, about half a mile from the smelting works. Mr Munro speaks with delight of the beautiful picture presented by the works at night, lit up by electric light, and the glow of the molten matte reflecting a thousand prismatic colors. The general manager is Mr Ashcroft, and the mine manager Mr Potter. There is one furnace going which treats about 120 tons a day. At the mine where a large amount of ore is in sight, the impression created is a hopeful one. Another reverberatory furnace will shortly be added, which will give further employment. Besides the men employed actually at the mine, the hills are aglow with the fires of the charcoal burners, whose kilns are spread far and wide. The population of 500 or 600 is composed mainly of employes of the Company, though latterly their wives and families have begun to put in an appearance. There are a number of other copper shows in the neighborhood, amongst which may be mentioned Mt. Cardwell. Coolgarra, 11 miles from Mt. Garnet, on the road to Herberton, is a tin mining centre, which has been lying dormant for years, but has recently sprang into life. There are upwards of a hundred men at work, and the place is so advanced that a race meeting is to be held on the 15th August. There are two. hotels, kept by Mrs Mcauley and Mr McGinlay respectively. Of Herberton, which is an old established and onetime important town whose glories were those of the rich tin days, there is of late quite a sign of revival Mr Munros most frosty remembrance of Herberton was the register of the thermometer which showed 17. degrees Fahrenheit and blocks of solid ice lay on the hotel counter the whole day without thawing. Just imagine this within the tropics and dream of Herberton on a sweltering summers day with the thermometer over the century. The thermometer didnt lie either. There is an official record of the postmaster to corroborate the statement. The principal tin mines of Herberton are represented by the Monarch owned by Trembath and Co from which 60 tons of tons of ore recently gave 17 per cent of tin and the Great Northern, for which tenders are be- ing called to sink 200 feet. There is some rich agricultural land also between Herberton and Woodeigh station. Here a Mr Watson. raises some fine turnips and potatoes. For the latter he received £11 a ton. Mr Munro, is of the opinion that as soon as the line is open to Mt. Garnet a large timber trade will spring up. There is an abundance of cedar, pine, and other timbers in the scrubs in the vicinity. One important matter almost escaped mention md that is the profusion of the poison plant or shrub on the Mt. Garnet road. It is called locally ironwood and the Bourke CarryingCo., have lost 20 camels through it, valued at £1000 to £1500.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 10:02:27 +0000
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